Politics · Turkey · 10 hrs ago
Israeli opposition criticizes Netanyahu over planned end to US aid
Donald Trump said the US would end financial assistance to Israel by the end of 2026, citing an agreement he said he made with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Israeli opposition leaders criticized Netanyahu, saying the change could harm the country's security and economy.
Israeli media reported that senior defense, military and finance officials were unaware of the plan before Trump's announcement.
The US has pledged $38 billion in military assistance over 10 years through 2028, under an agreement made in 2016.
Israel is facing high military costs and pressure to replenish weapons stocks after prolonged regional conflicts.
Opposition leaders say losing the aid would add to taxpayer costs and weaken Israel's defense, while Netanyahu has previously supported reducing reliance on US assistance and expanding domestic weapons production.
The dispute adds pressure on Netanyahu as Israel's election results await official confirmation, expected Wednesday.
Donald Trump announced that the United States plans to end financial assistance to Israel by the end of 2026.
Israeli opposition leaders accused Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of putting the country’s security and economy at risk.
Reports said senior Israeli defense, military and finance officials had not known about the planned cutoff before Trump’s announcement.
Opposition leaders said ending the assistance could burden taxpayers and weaken Israel’s defense capabilities.
Netanyahu has previously argued that Israel should rely less on American military assistance and expand domestic weapons production.
- Who
- U.S. President Donald Trump announced the planned cutoff. Israeli opposition leaders criticized Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu over it.
- What
- The United States plans to end financial assistance to Israel by the end of 2026.
- When
- Tuesday, November 3, 2026.
- Where
- The announcement concerned U.S. assistance to Israel. Trump made it as Americans voted in congressional midterm elections.
- Why
- Trump cited an agreement he said he had reached with Netanyahu several months earlier. Netanyahu has previously advocated reducing Israel’s reliance on U.S. assistance.
Israeli opposition leaders
Benjamin Netanyahu’s approach to reducing reliance on U.S. assistance
Handling of U.S. assistance
Israeli opposition leaders
Opposition leaders said Netanyahu should have sought more support and criticized the planned end of assistance as a failure that could harm security and the economy.
Benjamin Netanyahu’s approach to reducing reliance on U.S. assistance
Netanyahu has previously advocated reducing Israel’s reliance on U.S. military assistance and expanding domestic weapons production to strengthen strategic independence.
Government preparedness
Israeli opposition leaders
Opposition leaders said the reported lack of notice to senior officials showed poor coordination and transparency.
Benjamin Netanyahu’s approach to reducing reliance on U.S. assistance
Netanyahu’s stated position is that greater self-sufficiency would strengthen Israel’s strategic independence.
Washington and Israel agreed to a memorandum of understanding pledging $38 billion in military assistance over 10 years through 2028.
Trump announced plans to end U.S. financial assistance to Israel by the end of the year.
Israeli opposition leaders criticized Netanyahu after reports that senior officials had been unaware of the planned cutoff.
- Planned cutoff
- By the end of 2026
- Military aid memorandum
- $38 billion over 10 years through 2028
- Annual assistance under the memorandum
- Approximately $3.8 billion
- Knesset seats
- Netanyahu’s bloc 53; opposition parties 48; Arab parties 19
- Majority threshold
- 61 seats in the 120-member Knesset
What people are saying
The fact that Israel's defence establishment is learning of a shift in our strategic relationship through the media, at the same time as the Israeli public, shows just how dangerous Benjamin Netanyahu's conduct is
He can no longer be trusted and must be replaced
A responsible prime minister would have fought to increase US assistance, not end it
Israel's air defense capabilities have been depleted after such a prolonged war